Lubricator



Dec. 24, 1935. Q s, BARKS 2,025,632

LUBRICATOR Filed Aug. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I. 45

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F. S. BARKS LUBRICATOR Filed Aug. 8, 1934 I Dec. 24, 1935.

2 Shets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,025,632 LUBRlCATOB.

Frank s. Barks, St. Louis, Mo.

Application August 8, 1934, Serial No. 738,954 Claims. (01. soc-so) This invention relates to lubricators, and with regard to certain more specific features, to lubricators for journal boxes and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an automatic, journalbox lubricator which is operable by the side sway induced bymovement of the vehicle on which the device is located; the provision of such a lubricator which has lubricant available on the journal bearing surface at starting from a standstill; the provision of a device of the class described which materially reduces the starting friction of the journal to which it is applied; the provision of a device of this class described which more efllciently lubricates the journal while in motion; and the provision of apparatus of this class which shall confine the circulation of the lubricant to the lubricating system without substantial leakage. part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated two of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing the device applied to a locomotive journal;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken throilgh a pump;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of parts of the pump shown in Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a crown brass bearingblock;

r Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on line 6-6 of of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on line '|-'I of Fig. 5; i

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the arrangement of pumps in an alternative system for supplying lubricant to a longer journal; and,

' Fig. 9 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a long bearing block applicable to the structure of Fig. 8.

, Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown by way of example at numeral I, a locomotive wheel on the end of a journal3. It will be understood that in the case of a locomo- Other objects will be in part obvious and in tive, the journals are inside of the wheels, whereas in the case of passenger and freight cars, the journals are outside of the wheels. It will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to both classes of journals.-

At numeral 5 is shown a journal box which fits into the pedestals of the locomotive frame. Within the journal box is carried a bearing 1, known in other classes of these structures as a crown brass. From the above, it will be seen 10 that the load of the locomotive is transferred from the pedestals through the journal box 5 and crown brass I to the journal 3. The bearing is incomplete in kinematic form, leaving the underside of the journal exposed.

As will be shown hereinafter, the journal 3, while moving, is constantly flushed from the bottom with oil. In order that some of this oil may be in an advantageous position between the journal 3 and bearing 1 when the vehicle stops, I provide the crown brass I with grooves of the nature shown in Figures 5 to 7.

Grooves 9 and H are formed as oppositely pointing arrow or T-heads having peripheral portions l3 and sloping branches l5 which, on 95 the cylindric surface of the.crown brass, become helically arranged. The helical effect is not shown in Figure 5, because it would have to be exaggerated to become apparent. The peripheral portions l3 communicate with the flat bottomed surfaces ll of the brass; whereas the ends l9 of branches l5 fall short. of ;these surfaces I! and are blind ended. The purpose of this particular grooving (grooves 9 and II) is to provide the oil pick-up passages l3 which will receive a heavy supply of lubricant and carry it way the journal is rotating, backwards or forwards.

when the journal stops, the lubricant at the junction 2| runs down the branches ii to the end l9 where it is blocked and retained as a reservoir of lubricant for use immediately upon starting. This is an advantage over other grooving systems used in conjunction with flushing devices in that said other devices permit the lubricant to run out of the bearing by gravity when the vehicle stops. Hence, under prior con- Endwise peripheral grooves 25 effect an outlet for lubricant which would otherwise tend to creep to the ends of the crown brass. The lubricant, upon reaching the outlet grooves '25, takes the form of a peripheral bead-about the journal. This it could not do without grooves 25. Centrifugal force and gravity aid in forming the bead at the plane of each groove 25. Thus the lubricant is carried downwardly upon the journal. It, is displaced therefrom in a manner to be set forth hereinafter.

In order to effect said flushingwith oil of the journal 3, I provide a sump 21 including a filling reservoir 29 having a capped inlet 39. This sump has upwardly extending walls 3| which lap longitudinal grooves 33 in the crown brass 1. The sump is supported by means of lips 35 restingupon ledges 31 of the journal box. A metal dam 39, held to the journal box by means of bolts II, carries a felt or the likewiper 43 for engagement with the journal. An upper dam 45 cooperates with said lower dam 39 (behind clips 41 welded to said dam 39) and is held to the journal box by means of a bolt 49. It also carries a felt or the like, wiper 5|. Numerals 53 indicate rivets for holding the felt wiper pieces.

At the other end, the sump 21 is provided with a wooden or like dam 55 normally pressed up against the journal 3 by means of a spring 51. By this means is formed the sump under and around the ends of journal 3 for carrying lubricant which is flushed onto said journal.

. Flushing is accomplished by pump 1? which will now be described in detail (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) The pump comprises a cylinder 59 having a head 9| which is welded at 93 to the sump 21. From the right-hand end- (Fig. 3) of the cylinder 59 is introduced a reciprocating sleeve 55 having a renewable head 91 and a groove 59 with which cooperates an outwardly pressing spring ring 1| for limiting the movement-of the sleeve. The head 91 contacts with the hub of the locomotive wheel and responds by reciprocation in the cylinder 59 to lateral movement of the sump 21 with respect to the wheel. There is always such lateral movement, between the, sump and the wheel because of the side sway allowed between the journal box (to which is attached the sump) and the wheels. l

The interior of the head 61 contacts with, but is not joined to a plunger stem 15 which reaches to a plunger 11. The stem 15 carries a head 13..

A spring 19 normally reacts on head 13 to cause the plunger 11 to follow the motion of the head predetermined angular relationshipbetween said cylinders 59 and 93.

The cylinder 93 carries an inlet check valve 99 and an outlet check valve 9|, whereby reciprocation oi the plunger 11 effects indrawing oi the lubricant through the valve 99 and expulsion of the same through the valve 9|.

From the valve 9|, the lubricant is forced through a hollow stem 93 which is threaded to 5 'the cylinder 93 the same having a clearing internal fit with respect to a cap 95, the latter serving in cooperation with the left-hand end of cylinder 59 to support a strainer 91 for straining the oil which proceeds to the downwardly located check valve 99. The purpose of the predetermined angular relatioiiship determined by the dowel pin 95 and recess 91 is to maintain the inlet check valve 99 directed downwardly to as low a. point as possible in the well of oil.

The hollow outlet- 93 carries-a shoulder 99 which cooperates with the manifold cap 95 to close the left end thereof. The closure 99 is provided with spanner wrench sockets |9| and a seat for a spring I93, the latter reacting against 20 the opposite end of the sump 21 to force together the parts 93 and 59,.thereby maintaining the assembly of the pump in the sump.

Demounting of the pump for making repairs is quite simple. All that is necessary is to pull back 25 the spring I93 from the member I99. Thereafter parts 93, 95, 91 and 93 may be withdrawn from the support 59. The plunger 15 and spring 19 also are drawn out. These may then be readily separated by unloosening 99 and removing 9|. The head 51 with the sleeve 95 may-be drawn out in the opposite direction. 'Repairs thus may be quite readily effected.

As shown in Figure 4, the outlet manifold 95 carries anoutlet pipe I95 which has a slip lit 95 I91 in a recess of a lubricant well I99 (see also Fig. 1).

The well I99 has a slidable applicator III which is normally spring pressed upwardly by means of spring I I3, the applicator I having a 40 bearing on a stem 5 and limited inits motion by a cross pin 1. The applicator includes a spread head 9 for contacting with the journal 3.

It will be seen that as the side sway takes place with the motion of the vehicle, the pump P withdraws lubricant from the sump and forces it through the manifold 95, pipes. I95, well I99, and applicator III against the journal 3. It will be seen that as the fluid presses through the applicator, a reaction is set up which tends to displace the member I II downwardly. This effects a spreading of the lubricant laterally over the journal 3.

The lubricant adheres to the journal (primarily in a central band) and is carried upwardly through the grooves described in connection with the crown brass 1. Here it is properly spread laterally. Any tendency to leak at the ends of the journal is substantially prevented by the grooves 25 which form beads of the oil, the same being carried downwardly again on the journal. Beneath the grooves 25 but pressing against the journal are brass, bronze or similar wiper springs I29 held on brackets |2I for stripping the beaded lubricant from the journal and dropping it into the sump. It will be noted in this connection that the ends of grooves 25 communicate with the flat I1 of the crown brass 1, thus providing the desired outlets. More than two grooves 25 may be used, if desired.

It will be understood that one or more pumps may be used within a given sump. For instance, in Figs. 8 and 9 are shown such. To pumps PI and P2 are used with applicators AI and A2 with the pump. This is because the pump is made.

longer so as to be applicable to a longer journal. The longer crown brass required for the longer journal of this form of the invention is shown in Figure 9 wherein like numerals designate like parts. It will be understood that an applicator is placed beneath each set of peripheral grooves I3 01' the grooves having the general appearance of arrow or T-heads. In this case a single set of endwise grooves 25, are again used because this is all that is necessary on any crown brass to prevent endwise leaking. The corresponding wiper springs I20 are also used.

It will be appreciated that any or all of the grooves above-described may be placed in com.- munication with'suitable reservoirs hollowed out of the crown brass itself or otherwise arranged.

It will be seen that one of the features of the invention is the provision of means for flushing an excess quantity of lubricant against the journal and then effectively recapturing the excess so as to effect a low lubricant consumption. The

grooves 25 and the wipers I20 efiect this recapture in connection with the formation of the described beads of lubricant. If it were'not for this feature the oil would continue to travel along the journal to the wheel on one side, and along the axle on the other side, to be lost. Without this feature it would also probably be necessary, in order to obtain economical oil consumption, to

use a pump with an adjustable stroke so as to out down the consumption under excessive conditions of sway. With this invention maximum quantities can be pumped at all times without waste. This not only economizes on oil but simplifies the apparatus.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out oil which is carried upwardly on the journal and.

to deliver the same upwardly, then back laterally and downwardly, said groove having a blind end.

2. Inapparatus 0 the class described, a journal, a bearing suppo d on said journal, endwise peripheral grooves in said bearing, said grooves communicating with a space adjacent the lower side of said journal, stripper members engageable with the journal to strip lubricant from the same at points below said peripheral grooves, and at least one groove in said bearing adapted to receive lubricant, said last-named groove having a laterally arranged portion for distributing said lubricant downwardly after the same has been received in the groove, the downward portions of said last-named grooves having no communication with the sump.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a journal, an incomplete bearing on the upper side of said journal, said bearing having a groove adapted to receive flushed lubricant from said journal and advance it upwardly, at least one continuation in said groove adapted to carry said lubricant laterally and downwardly with a component of movement in a direction opposite the direction of oil advance and a dead end in said continuation.

4. In .apparatus of the class described, a journal, an incomplete bearing on the upper side of said journal, said bearing having a grooveadapted to receive lubricant and carry it upwardly, continuations in said groove adapted to carry said lubricant laterally and downwardly with a component of movement in the direction from whence the oil came, said continuations having dead ends, endwise peripheral grooves in said bearing communicating with the open spaces about the journal, strippers located in the planes of said lastnamed grooves adapted to strip gathered lubricant from the journal as determined by said peripheral grooves, and a laterally arranged spreader groove located adjacently to said firstnamed groove.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a journal, an incomplete bearing on the upper side of said journal leaving an open space adjacent the 

